NATO mine countermeasures forces arrive in Turku

Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) arrived in Turku on Thursday for a scheduled port visit, said Finnish Defence Forces in a press release on Friday.

The visiting vessels comprised the flagship, the Lithuanian LNS Jotvingis, the Polish mine countermeasures vessel ORP Mewa, and the Finnish mine countermeasures vessel MHC Purunpää.

The routine call will extend over the weekend, allowing the multinational task group to conduct a routine rest, while the vessels undergo fuel and food replenishment. The vessels are moored at the Port of Turku.

LNS Jotvingis is a command and support ship measuring 64.8 metres in length and 12 metres in width, ORP Mewa is 58.5 metres long and 10.3 metres wide, while MHC Purunpää is 52 metres long and 9.8 metres wide.

SNMCMG1 is a multinational maritime force made up of vessels from various Allied countries. The vessels are available to NATO to perform different tasks ranging from exercises to support of operations. The vessels also strengthen the Alliance’s presence at sea.

The ships will not be open to the people during this routine call.